By Mike McAvoy
Christ the King’s Sierra Calhoun may be listed as a small forward in the Metro Classic program, but the highly touted junior was running the point for most of the game.
Calhoun and her fellow representatives of the Boro’s team dropped its match-up between the Burb’s team 91-65 in the girls’ basketball all-star game at Archbishop Molloy Sunday afternoon. The Boro’s were expected to suit up 12 players, but with the game coinciding with the Rose Classic fall league semifinals, the team only dressed seven.
With his team short three guards, head Coach Rocco Sellitto, of Bishop Kearney, went to Calhoun, who finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds, before the game and asked if she would be willing to step up.
“I explained to her because of the scenario, I would be starting her at guard,” Sellitto said. “She told me, ‘Good, that’s where I’ve been playing and that’s where I want to play.’”
With Calhoun’s Christ the King squad missing two of its point guards from last season — Amanni Fernandez transferred to Lawrenceville and Alyssa Gatti is recovering from a torn ACL — Calhoun took the past summer preparing for her new role.
“I’m going to be playing mostly point guard this season,” Calhoun said. “That’s what I spent this summer playing.”
Calhoun, who plays for the Gauchos travel team, spent the offseason as a combo guard. The ninth overall recruit in her class, according to ESPN, has offers from Notre Dame, Duke, Kentucky, St. John’s, Rutgers, Florida State, Syracuse and West Virginia. She feels at home in her new role.
“I’m used to it,” Calhoun said. “I feel very comfortable at the point.”
The Burb’s squad, led by game MVP Brittany Lai (10 points, 11 assists), tested Calhoun’s comfort level. They threw the press and traps at her from the get go and with little help, Calhoun’s performance was uneven. She just sees it as preparation for more important games with the defending CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens champion Royals.
“This game only gets me ready for what I’ll be doing this season,” she said.
Sharing the backcourt with Calhoun was Molloy’s Amani Tatum, who participated in both the Metro Classic and the Rose Classic. She made trips back and forth between Queens and Brooklyn, played in three games, and her Archbishop Molloy team won the Rose Classic title — all in a day’s work for Tatum, who led the Boro’s squad with 21 points.
“It’s very hectic,” Tatum said of her game schedule. “But I mean I love to play the game, so it was more enjoyable and exciting than anything.”
